Downing the coffee, Levi checked his belongings once more. The mace was safely attached to the side of the camping backpack, in one of its pockets. He had hurriedly put back the sling after last night's use.
Opening it, he came face to face with more weapons. One combat knife that he had bought as a reference for a knife that he had to smith, a flare gun with some ammunition.
Though it wouldn't be useful for any rescue, it could be used as a weapon. Pour some gasoline on a monster and light it up from afar. Levi didn't know if they could survive burning, but it was worth a try. He knew civilian-level guns would be useless. A revolver or any Glock X number wouldn't work.
Speaking of flames, he also had two bottles of alcohol wrapped in bubble plastic. Not to drink, but to weaponize. He could easily make at least six to seven bottles of Molotov from just two. And if he could find more alcohol around here, which he was certain he could, then the number of Molotovs would explode. Pun non-intended.
Just these items had half filled his bags; the rest of the items were survival food. A filled canteen, a complete box of protein bars, two cans of beans, and finally, three small plastic bags of Indian curry.
It was a wonder that the bottles hadn't been damaged or anything dropped. It would have sucked. With a sigh, he tore the protein box and took out a protein bar to munch on while he scouted the town.
His small height made him a funny sight alongside the giant backpack compared to him, but no one in the town had the energy and spirit to smile, let alone laugh. To Levi, they all looked dead to him. The people were just walking around for the sake of walking around. Some of them were just sitting on the porches of the houses, eyes lost and vacant.
If the world thought they had seen depression, then they hadn't met the people of this town. But it was understandable. For all Levi knew, one day, he would turn into exactly like these people. Just the thought made him shiver.
Forcibly, he turned his attention to another part of the town as he walked towards the church. He saw a man and a young woman talking with low voices, as they talked about facing the house right in front of the church. Both looked Hispanic, with the man looking like a titan while the woman was someone around his age, with dark, long curly hair.
On the porch sat an older version of the woman, looking at them. Her attention turned to him for a slight moment. Levi nodded, and she glanced back at her family. A melancholic smile on her face.
Exhaling, he turned to the church, stopping by the steps as the priest and Donna were the last ones by the door, talking to each other quietly. Probably figuring out what they should do, what they can do.
"Levi." Khutri was the one to call and Donna also turned to him. "Anything I can do for you?"
"Yeah, what's the plan?" He finally asked, stopping in front of both. Donna raised an eyebrow. "What's the plan?" She paroted and Levi nodded.
"Yeah, what's the plan for the rest of the day? We make it through the night, sure, but what about after? You've all been doing this for a year. There's got to be something more than just waiting for sundown." His question brought both unofficial leaders of the town into silence. But the one to break first was the woman, as she sighed, telling the man something with her eyes before leaving them alone.
Levi looked at her in confusion, "Shall we go in?" But the invitation from the man cleared up just a little.
Inside the mud-walled church, both men, one older than the other, sat in silence. With a smile, "I'm surprised no one asked me about the mace I'm carrying." Levi broke the wrongful quietness, leading to the man chuckling in fondness, maybe for the first time in a while.
"Truth be told, I am curious about it, but… In these times, there's no use for curiosity. I'm just glad that it could be used for your safety."
"Huh." An impressed sound came from the 25-year-old. "What's your question?" The older gentleman finally asked, and Levi nodded, leaning a little towards the man. "You said you survived for about a year, and longer on Donna's part."
A nod.
"How?"
For a single moment, there was only the sound from outside.
"We hid-"
"Not that. I meant food and water. On my walk here, I didn't notice any grocery shops or a clear body of water." Levi began. At the joke, Khutri smiled once more, not out of humor but politeness. "Donna and a couple of others had set up a greenhouse. Everything else, well, we scavenge from those who couldn't make it."
"Oh…"
"Regarding water, the facets at the houses all work, and it's drinkable water. At least, no one has gotten sick from it or…"
"If they did get sick, you wouldn't know." Levi finished, and the older man nodded in sadness.
"And for food, is it enough for everyone?" Levi asked, only to get a shake of the head from Khatri. "We try to ration and divide it as much as possible, but not everyone gets enough to fill their belly. Some don't even get anything, and well… They have to either beg others or find something on their own."
"Oh…" That meant the situation was very, very bad. Meaning, right now, food was much more valuable than diamonds and whatever he had left. He'd better make sure he rations it and learn to trade very well.
Maybe someone would be very happy to trade some bread for a protein bar. If there was any bread.
"Anyway, let's show you some of our hiding places before it gets too dark." Khutri groaned and stood up, followed by Levi. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
The rest of the day was spent on a guided tour, Khutri introducing the newcomer, Levi, to others, and discussing the hiding places and who would usually hide with whom. In the afternoon, by six, the sun was already touching the horizon on the west side.
That left Levi with an option. Either he could stay out the night from the diner, do some research on the smiling creatures, or take the easy way out and hide for tonight. Following Khutri as he told everyone that it was time, the sun was almost set.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The screech tore through the hair, and Levi got paralyzed for a moment. His decision was made for him. "Can I come with you?" He asked, and Khutri nodded with a smile. Quickly and as silently as possible, they made their way to a hidden hatch by the side of the diner. "Get in."
Without any hesitation, Levi jumped down with his backpack, and he helped Khutri get in and lock the hatch shut.
When Levi turned around, he saw a little platform in the middle of the dug room, a lantern. And surrounding it was Donna, the Hispanic family that he saw earlier that day, and two other men. "So, how soundproof is this hole?" He asked, catching everyone's attention, breaking the tension.
Not due to his question, but due to everyone looking down at him when he talked. Surprised as their eyes dipped lower than they expected when talking to him. For some reason, that pissed him more than being lost in this nightmarish town.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
This time, it was closer.